San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis watches a home run in front of Seattle Mariners catcher Tuffy Gosewisch during the eighth inning of a spring training baseball game Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)(Photo: The Associated Press)

Iowa likely won’t have the same type of star-prospect-packed roster in 2018 it has had in the past. But that doesn’t mean Iowans won’t get to see some stars of tomorrow in the minor leagues.

The 16-team Pacific Coast League the Iowa Cubs play in offers plenty of prized prospects who could make their way to Des Moines this season.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest prospects who could, could, see some time when their organization’s Triple-A team comes to Iowa this summer.

Fernando Tatis Jr., infielder, San Diego Padres

The name is a familiar one to baseball fans. Tatis is the son of former big-leaguer Fernando Tatis. The younger Tatis is quickly making a name for himself. The 19-year-old infielder has shown plenty of pop, producing 22 home runs last year, his second professional season. Tatis was acquired from the White Sox as part of the James Shields deal and hasn’t played above Double-A. But he’ll likely see time with Triple-A El Paso this season.

Walker Buehler, pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Buehler, a hard-throwing, right-handed pitcher, is ranked the 12th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com. The 23-year-old, whose fastball has been clocked around 96 miles per hour, got a taste of Triple-A last season, going 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 12 games, including three starts with the Oklahoma City Dodgers. Buehler, who was impressive during his brief outings in big-league camp during spring training, will begin the season in the minors and if all goes according to plan, should help the L.A. Dodgers at some point this season.

Brendan Rodgers at the 2015 MLB Draft.
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Brendan Rodgers, infielder, Colorado Rockies

The 21-year-old has been one of the most promising prospects in all of baseball since the Rockies made him the third overall pick in the 2015 draft. Rodgers has hit everywhere he’s been, producing a .336 batting average with a .567 slugging percentage during his first three professional seasons. He played in last season’s Future’s Game but hasn’t played above Double-A — yet. He put together a solid spring, smashing three home runs and hitting .286 in 49 at-bats with the Rockies and will begin the season in the minors.

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Alex Reyes, pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals

Reyes’ career has been full of winding roads and many thought he wouldn’t still be labeled as a prospect by now. But he is. He dealt with a shoulder issue in 2015, a drug suspension in 2016 and missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. But there are still high hopes for the hard-throwing 23-year-old right-handed pitcher who dazzled the Cardinals during his big-league debut in 2016 when he went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 12 games, including five starts. Reyes will start the season on the disabled list and could see time in Des Moines again after making a start against the Cubs at Principal Park in 2016.

(Photo: The Associated Press)

Alex Verdugo, outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

The left-handed hitting Verdugo is described by MLB.com as “one of the best pure hitting prospects in baseball.” It’s easy to see why. All he’s done is hit since the Dodgers selected him in the second round of the 2014 draft. Verdugo has compiled a .305 batting average with 97 doubles and 31 homers during his first four minor-league seasons. The 2017 season was a big one for him. He hit .357 for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic and got a cup of tea with the Dodgers during a 15-game big-league stint. Since the Dodgers have a ton of talent in the outfield, he’ll start the season in the minors.

Luis Urias, infielder, San Diego Padres

It hasn’t taken Urias long to make his mark. The 20-year-old middle infielder has shown he has one of the best bats in the Padres’ organization ever since San Diego signed him out of the Mexican League. During his first full professional season, Urias won California League MVP and Rookie of the Year honors. He made the most of a three-game opportunity he got in Triple-A while some of El Paso’s players were preparing for the Future’s Game last season. During the stint, Urias hit .444 (4-for-9) with a home run. The young infielder will begin the season somewhere in the minors for the Padres.

Cal Quantrill, pitcher, San Diego Padres

Quantrill is the son of former big-leaguer Paul Quantrill. The right-handed pitcher may have just shown signs of his potential during his professional career as he worked his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent while he was at Stanford. Quantrill had so much potential that the Padres still selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 draft. He has yet to pitch above Double-A, but the 23-year-old is rapidly rising through the system.

Carson Kelly, catcher, St. Louis Cardinals

The 23-year-old Kelly is considered the heir apparent to Cardinals catching star Yadier Molina — someday. Kelly, a second-round pick by the Cardinals in 2012, is waiting his turn but turning heads in the process. He hit .382 with 13 doubles and 10 homers in 68 games with Triple-A Memphis last season. Kelly appeared in 10 games with the Cardinals in 2016 and 34 last season but will once again start the season in the minors with Molina still going strong.

Jake Peter, infielder/outfielder/Los Angeles Dodgers

The Mason City native began his career with the Chicago White Sox, who selected him in the seventh round of the 2014 draft and shipped him off to the Dodgers during the offseason. Peter made a solid first impression with an impressive spring that included three home runs and 14 RBI for the Dodgers. Peter has been a super-utility option throughout his professional career and that will likely keep him in the mix for a possible call-up even after he starts the season in the minors.

Rookie Willie Calhoun is the favorite to win the job as the Texas Rangers' starting left fielder.(Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

Willie Calhoun, outfielder, Texas Rangers

Calhoun was a fourth-round pick by the Dodgers in 2015, but traded to the Rangers as part of the Yu Darvish deal. What the Rangers got was one of the best power hitters in the minors. Calhoun has already clobbered 69 homers in 333 minor league games including 23 with Triple-A with Oklahoma City last season. He earned a September call-up last season where he hit .265 with a homer in 13 games. Calhoun will start the season back in the minors though.